John russell jones



J.` R. JONES.

No. 48.6,474- Ptentea Now 22, 1892.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. I RJONES. ROLL TOP DESK.

No. 486,474. Patented Nov. 22, 1892..

JRMZZJM ini-nas'- sTATESI PATENT i Gretos,

JOHN RUSSELL JONES, OF MINNEAPOLIS, M'INNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO THE RUSS JONES DESK COMPANY.

RoLL-ToP DEsK.

SIDEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 486,474, dated November 22, 1892.

Application filed June 6, 1 8 9 1.

To ZZ whom it may cmwern:

Be it known that I, JoHN RUssELL J oNEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of I-Iennepin and State of Minnesota,have invented a new and useful Roll-Top Desk, of which the following is a specification. 1

This invention is an improvement in desks; and it has forits objects to provide a portable desk which when opened will have the appearance and in fact be a roll-top desk, to simplify and improve some of the parts of roll-top desks proper, and .to provide a rolltop desk which Will have no. side boards to obstruct the light when the desk is opened.

The invention has for further objects the production of a cheap, simple, convenient., and ornamental desk.

WVth these objects in view the invention resides in the various novel details of construction and in the combination of parts hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, in which I have' illustrated Iny inventiou, and in which likeletters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my desk, showing the same open. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the roll-top brought down and locked to the writing-leaf, closing the desk efiectually. Fig. 3 isa perspective view of the device, showing the same entirely closed, ready for transportation. Fig. f is a transverse central sectional view of the desk, the same being open. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of my improved hinge.

In the drawings the letter A designates the casing or outer part of the desk, which is provided by hingingone of its longer sides with a cover or writing-leaf a.

B designates the inner portion of the desk, where the pigeon-holes are located. This inner portion of the desk is Secured to the bottom side by the strips b in such a manner that a space is left on all sides between the outer casingAand the inner portion B. This Serial No. 395.306. (No model.)

which is the hinge upon which the Writingleaf a is hung.

O designates the roll-cover itself, which consists of the curved front. c and the quadrantshaped end pieces c'. These end pieces c' fit between the ends of the casing A and the ends of the inner portion of the desk B, and the curved front c fits between the topof the desk and the top of the inner portion B, the.

space thus provided for the movement of the roll-top being just sufficient for its move- `mcnt. It will be seen that the object of arranging the top and back pieces of the inner portion B upon chords and parts of chords of a circle the center of which is the hinge lupon which the writing-leaf is hung is to provide `a clear space wherein the curved front cmay move, and as this is the object it will be seen that it may be attained by making the top and back of the inner portion B in one continuous curve concentric with the curved front c.

D designates my improved hinge, by which not only is the writiug-leaf a pivoted orhung to the casing A, but the roll-top C itself is pivoted directly to the casin g. The construction by which this end is att-ained is as follows: An ordinary hinge composed of the leaves d and the pintle d' is provided on either side of the pintle, near one end, with slots dz. A quadrant-shaped leaf 623, which is provided with a circular enlargement 614 about the point of the center of the circle from which the quadrant is formed and is perforated at this point for the reception of the pintle, is pivoted on the pintle, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The leaves (Z are Secured in the usual manner to the bottom of the casing A and to the writing-leaf a, and the quadrant-shaped leaves di' are Secured in a similar manner-that is, by screws-to the angles of the quadrant-shaped end pieces c' of the rolltop O.

From the'foregoing description and from the drawings it will readily be seen that my desk is a great improvement over `the ordinary roll-top desks in the mere fact that when the roll-top is thrown back into the casing, as shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 5, there are no side boards or pieces to interfere with the light.

It will also be easily perceived that by the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts in this desk great' Simplicity is attained and the general appearance of the de- Vice made handsome.

In using my desk the same may be placed upon any ordinary table, counter, or the like, and if it be desirable the desk may be secured to its support in any suitable or convenient manner; but the prime object of the invention is to provide a portable desk which may be carried from one point to another and set up at any place, having the appearance Whenever set up of a ro1l-top desk.

The roll-top may be locked to the Writingleaf and the Writing-leaf may be locked to the casing. In case the roll-top is locked to the writing-leaf the two may be shut together and the writing-leaf thereupon secured to the casing, or the roll-top may be thrust back without being locked to the Writing-leaf and the writing-leaf afterward locked to the casing.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a roll-top desk, the outer casing having one'open side and composed of a top, a bottom, ends, and one side, an inner pigeonhole portion separated from the sides-of said outer casing, a roll-top hinged at the bottom of the casing and adapted to swing entirely within the same into the space between the outer casingand the pigeon-hole portion, and a combined cover and writing-leaf hinged a't the bottom of the casing and adapted toopen and close independently of the roll-top and adapted to form an extension of the bottom when arranged in a horizontal position and also to close the open side of the casing when disposed in a vertical position, substantially as described.

2. In a roll-top desk, the outer casing having one open side and composed of a top, a bottom, ends, and one side, a roll-top hinged at the bottom thereof and adapted to swing entirely within the same, and the combined cover and writing-leaf hinged at the bottom of the casing and adapted to open and close independently of the roll-top and adapted to form an extension of the bottom When arranged in a horizontal position and also to close the open side of the casing when d1sposed in a vertical position, substantially as described.

3. In a roll-top desk, the combination of an outer casing having an open side and com posed of a top, a bottom, ends, and one side, a roll-top adaptcd to Swing entirely within the casing, the combined cover and writingleaf adapted to open and close independently of the roll-top and arranged to close the open side of the casing when in avertical position and to form an extension of the bottom of the same when in a horizontal position, a hinge connecting the combined cover and writing- Ieaf to the bottom of the casiug and provided with an Opening, and a'sector-shaped leaf se- 

